Bangalore 14 March, 2019 (CCBI): Fr. Gilbert Aranha (55) the Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism is appointed as the Executive Secretary to the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (OEIA) of Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC). Fr Gilbert is a priest from the diocese of Mysore, Karnataka. He was born on 1 April, 1964 and was ordained priest on 27 May, 1988. He holds doctorate and Jurisprudence in canon law from Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. He also holds diploma in canonical administration from Pontifical Congregation for the Clergy, Rome, and a licentiate in ecumenism from Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome. He has master’s degrees in history and political science from Mysore University.
He served the diocese of Mysore as associate priest of St. Theresa’s Church, Mysore South, 1988-1997; director, social work centre, Mysore CCF, 1990-1997; lecturer of political science, St. Philomena’s college, Mysore, 1995-1997; parish priest, Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Kudlur and parish priest, St. Peter’s church, Bogadi, Mysore 2007-2013. He was also served as associate priest in the parishes of Taranto and Vicenza in Italy and chaplain at St. Martin’s hospital, Genova, Italy. He was the associate priest in Spring Field diocese, Massachusetts, USA and archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, USA and Judge of the Archdiocesan Tribunal of Kansas City and chaplain at St. Francis Hospital Kansas. USA and Newman Centre, University of Massachusetts, USA.
Currently he is the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism and Secretary and Co-Convener of Theological Forum of United Christian Prayer for India, UCPI.